Category: Embroidery

R U kidding me?

Literally just took this out of the package and decided to start it. take a few stitches and BAM, blood on a brand-new white potential table runner. Ugh. Could not figure out where it came from, but whatever. I am so annoyed with myself.

I bought this table runner from Annie’s. It just has some red and blue embroidery and I thought I could do something quilty around it. I don’t have anything red, white and blue for my table. Hoping I can get the blood out. It is not the first time I have bled on a project, but it is so white and not easily covered up (silently screaming).

I have quite a few table runners laying around…. Last year when I had my Neck surgery, I felt like I could not work on large projects, so I made a bunch of table runners. Now I have to get them quilted. I made a couple that are a bit southwest. If nothing else, they will make become Christmas gifts. I have at least 5 or 6 more. I like to quilt lines on these table runners because lines are easy and quick.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

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Hand Quilt Along

So, I have some hand quilting progress.  It is a great way to keep my hands busy and the mind sometimes.  Quilting and sewing are my therapy.  They are  helping me deal with the loss of my sister.  It gives me something else to think about.  This fish may be my favorite so far.  Although, the farting seahorse is a close second.  It was my dear sister Kellie who dubbed it the farting seahorse.  I may end up naming this quilt, the farting seahorse quilt, just for her.

Please visit all these wonderful women and see what they have been up to.

Kathy, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

Kellie

You can tell Kellie had a sense of humor, I mean, really a farting seahorse?  Leave it tohHer.  I searched high and low for a picture from my wedding, but could not find it.  It would have made this story so very appropriate.

When I married my first husband, Jerry, all my sisters were in my wedding along with

20180917_133732
Kellie and Mom

my long time friend Kim. I chose a sensible dress that could be ordered from J.C. Penny.  It was Jade in color.  I will never forget waiting at the church and in walks my older sister, Karen.  Kellie immediately broke out into song (Sesame Street).  “One of these things is not like the other one, not like the other one, not like the other one.”  Karen’s dress was a different dye lot.  It was much darker than everyone elses.  She was very upset.  I was just laughing.  Kellie proceeded to sing under her breath at the altar.  I miss her sense of humor.  I want to talk to her.

The other night for the first time in my life, I saw a shooting star.  I wished for a dream about Kellie where I could talk to her.  I am still waiting.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Love the ones you are with.

It’s a Miracle I have something for the HQAL

I finally have something for the Hand Quilt Along.  It is a miracle.  Only took me about six weeks.  This is another block for my under the sea quilt. Football season is coming, so I will likely have more as I spend more time watching TV.  I am not a big TV watcher, but here in Central Ohio, we do love Ohio State Football.  And, I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, so I do love the browns even though they have been awful lately.

Sister update:  Ups and downs.  Good one day, not so good the next.  It is a crazy roller coaster.  I did talk with her today and that always makes me feel better, even when she does not sound like herself.  Thanks to everyone for their kind words.

Please make sure that you visit all these wonderful ladies and look at their beautiful hand work.

Kathy,  Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon, and Karrin

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Hand Quilt Along and more side sewing

So, because I get easily bored, I have sort of moved on to another hand project.   I actually finished this piece in just one evening.  I have plans to incorporate this into an under the sea quilt. I think (will have to look) that I have the fabric for this quilt.  I will have to hunt for it.  To see more fabulous hand work, please visit the ladies below:

Kathy, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette, Sassy , Edith, Sharon and Bella.

I also made these key chains.  My guild attends a festival in late summer that is a bigWaterMark_2018-06-03-20-04-20 fund-raiser for us.  They sell items that the guild members make and donate.  Being in central Ohio, I thought these key chains might be something that could sell.

Happy Sewing
Happy Quilting

Bloggers Quilt Festival – How Fun

I found a Bloggers Quilt Festival by reading Susan’s blog at DesertSky Quilting.  She always knows where the good stuff is.

20170813_195432_resizedThis contest is hosted by Amy’s Creative Side.  It is a great place to see a lot of beautiful projects.  There are prizes just for entering.  No pressure.  Prizes are randomly drawn based on entries.

My entry is My “Oma’s Treasure”.  I love this Wall Hanging because it means a lot to me. Brings back a lot of memories of My Oma and my Mom, who I miss.  At 53 I still want my Mom sometimes.  This is also something I dreamed up, so I can claim it for my own design, even though ti is a little Loud.  I had a lot of great advice from my Blog friends on things to do, which I greatly appreciate.

My Oma has been gone since I was a teen-ager.  The embroidery in the middle is from a kit she sent me from Germany.  I found it is a box of stuff I was going through and decided to turn it into something Quilty.  As a teen. I was not to bad at embroidery.

I hope you all enter the Bloggers Quilt Festival.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting.

 

Oma’s Treasure finished for my One Monthly Goal

I actually really like this piece.  I had lots of advice from people on what to do and I thank all of you for your help.  I so very often finish pieces and am unimpressed.  This is already hanging in my dining room by all the other beautiful thinks that once belonged to Oma, Mom and now me.

Despite the fact that my Oma could not speak English, she always knew what to send me that would make me happy.  Something to make or do.  I believe the center embroidered piece is around 40 years old.  Surprisingly, I did not do such a bad job as a kid.

The embroidered piece is made from linen, so I did add some interfacing to the back to20170806_131034_resized add a bit of stability.  I also sewed glass beads in the centers of some flowers to keep the batting from shifting.  I went totally outside my box and did quilting outside my comfort zone and I am totally happy with it.  How crazy is that?  So, now, when I sit down to dinner, I can imagine Oma smiling down at me.  Getting sentimental, I should stop now.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Join One Monthly Goal, great way to get things done

Venturing outside of my box again……

I am always very envious of people that come up with their own designs.  While I sometimes create beautiful things (not so recently though) they are not usually something I came up with. This sort of bugs me.  I want it all to be me.  Likely why I can’t send a quilt off to be quilted by someone else.

I am usually getting my inspiration for things (mostly quilty stuff) by looking at other people’s work, magazines and books.  I am sure we all do.  Sometimes in my mind I am skill building, which is not always bad.  But I always have in the back of my mind that I want it to be all mine from design to finish.

So, last week I finished my “One Monthly Goal” (have not posted yet, this picture is just20170622_182605 the embroidery).  As I hung it up in my dining room, I took a step back and realized this is a one of a kind piece of work.  No one else will have anything like it.  The only part I did not design was the embroidery.  It was a kit my Oma gave me when I was a teen.  But the rest, all me (with all my blog friends advice).  So, why did I think that I could not do my own designs?  Honestly, when I did that piece, I was not thinking about designing a one of a kind piece.  But, that is what happened.

Well, maybe I can.  I will start with something small.  Maybe I do it more than I realize.  Not really sure.  So, I am always practicing on Table Toppers and small pieces.  So, Figured I would try my hand at my own small piece.

I took a piece of homespun fabric that I didn’t like.  Funny because, it was in the local guild quilting garage sale and no one bought or traded for it.  I wanted to not waste something that I liked, fabric wise.  So, I went to my “What were you thinking when you bought that fabric box?”  Then I went to my scraps for the leaves.  I have to admit, they are some of my favorite fabric scraps.  Hand Dyed, which I actually dyed.

I no longer hate the homespun.  Funny how that works.  Still need to finish it, which I will.  Not exactly sure on my curvy base, but I may still work on that.  Is it too busy? Would love your thoughts, all of you give great advice.  Thanks!

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Oma’s Treasures –Well, it certainly is bright.

Trying to decide if it is too obnoxious or loud.  My goal was not to take away from the embroidery.  I am not sure that I did that here.  I don’t mind the happy colors, but when you look at it’s like a slap in the face of color. I still have a couple things in mind to do.  One more one inch green around the outside, I think.  I plan to quilt the outside, but I am not sure how yet.  For where the embroidery is, since it is a such a long piece, I think I will sew tiny glass beads in the centers of some of the flowers to ensure the batting does not shift.  Of course, my binding is a bit crazy.  I have a striped piece of fabric (green/orange/pick/yellow) to add to the craziness of this piece.  Feel free to give me your opinion on my color choices and any suggestions on quilting (kinda stumped with that).  You will not offend me if you think it is awful.  I asked for it. LOL.

On a positive note, some good news, my older daughter, who was in a horrific head on collision nearly a year ago, has moved out.  I would say she is 90% of her old self, which is pretty good considering what I saw the first night in the ICU.  While it was a challenging six months after the accident. The outcome was far better than I anticipated.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

A Sentimental Blast from the Past

In July, the quilt guild is having a garage sale for quilting fabric/items.  I was going through some boxes looking for things I could part with (more like make room for more) and came across this embroidered item.

Right away it brought tears to my eyes.  I made this from a kit that Oma sent me from Germany.  She knew I was crafty and often sent me something she knew I would like to do.  She also sent me a piece of silverware for my collection.  I so remember looking at that silver fork and looking at my mother wondering why I always got silverware from her on my birthday and at the holidays (along with the crafty items).  My mother would always tell me that I will appreciate it later.  While I hated getting utensils as a present when I was a kid, Mom was right.  I certainly do appreciate it now.  I have an entire set of silver for 12.  It is something I truly cherish.  Every holiday I think of her and my mother when I get it out.

Since Oma died when I was in my late teens, I imagine this piece is pretty old.  Maybe 40 years or close to it.  Once I ironed it, it was perfect.  Originally I think it was made to hang on your front door.  I may still do that, but not until I add something quilty.    I am thinking it needs to be colorful, hot pinks, oranges, lime greens.  Not sure of design yet, but I may keep it simple so not to take away from the embroidery and Oma’s memory.

Tomorrow I am going to a quilt in.  Yeah.  Can’t wait to spend the day with my friend Lynn doing what we love.

Happy Sewing

Happy Quilting

Treasure Your Family

What to do……with this……

I am that person that has to be doing something at all times. If I sit down to watch the news or something else on TV, my hands must be occupied. If not, I will be eating something (which I certainly do not need to do) or I might fall asleep.
I have done some piecing by hands, but I find that it winds up being a lot of the same thing, so I find embroidery keeps my attention a little better. Since, I really like to quilt, I have to find ways to incorporate my embroidery into quilts.

Currently, I have this Halloween picture that I need to do something with. If I remember correctly, this was a picture from a coloring book (maybe. Honestly, I am not sure). I do remember that it took a fair amount of time to do this picture.

The problem I have is that now I am not sure what to do with it. I am a practical person by nature, so I do like things that I can use. So, maybe a Table Topper? The only issue is that it a picture that can only really be seen from one direction, and it would end up getting washed a lot (not sure if that matters or not). I already have one for hanging on the door, so I don’t really need another wall hanging….  It is also about 16″ x 18″ which is fairly large.

So, I am looking for ideas, if anyone has one. I have all my Halloween fabric out and am just staring at it with that blank look. Thanks.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing